Innholdsfortegnelse for August/September 2023 i Florida Sportsman

Why run a story about a fish we aren’t legally permitted to catch or even target? I’m referring to smalltooth sawfish, a “hidden gem” featured by writer Natalie Van Hoose in this issue’s On the Conservation Front department. Two reasons. One, as Natalie reminds us, anglers are uniquely positioned to contribute to sawfish recovery by reporting encounters with this wide-roving but endangered species. We’re out there on the bays and reefs, exercising our freedoms, enjoying the myriad fish that inhabit Florida waters. Personally, I think it’s a small “ask” to suggest we give back by calling in sightings of sawfish. I spotted one mid-August a few years ago off Stuart—it looked like a whole section of reef moving beneath our skiff, 16 or 17 feet long! Amazing! For me, it’s…

Reports of smalltooth sawfish are on the rise, igniting hopes that the iconic Florida species is making a comeback 20 years after it was listed as endangered. Sawfish have returned to the Indian River Lagoon after vanishing from the waterway more than four decades ago. They are also consistently spotted in Southwest Florida, their core range, and occasionally reported in the northern Gulf of Mexico, said Gregg Poulakis, a fish biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Once common, smalltooth sawfish suffered dramatic declines in the 20th century. Coastal development imperiled sawfish habitat, and their protruding, toothed snout and large size made it easy for them to become entangled in fishing nets, where they perished as accidental bycatch. The species previously inhabited warm coastal waters on both sides…

The late summer and early fall bite can be tough; at least it seems that way after the spring bite the Florida Keys is known for. However, with a bit of knowledge and some hard work you can put together a super fun day of fishing. And, you will find a more relaxed vibe during the coming months, maybe also being able to save some money compared to visiting the Keys during the high season. Your favorite species may not be in the cards right now, but there are so many opportunities to keep you hooked up. The variety of fish we have to catch is truly unparalleled. Traditionally, our best mahi bite has been in the spring, but in the last few years, that bite has been mediocre. Some…

Late summer patterns are in full swing right now. Days are hot and muggy, and you can bet on that afternoon thunderstorm. The tropics tend to be pretty active right now, too. I pray we don’t get a hellacious hurricane this year, but large rain events have me dreaming about a great fishery our region has to offer that most others don’t—spillways. No need for a boat, this is primarily a land-based fishery that anyone can enjoy. If you’re unfamiliar with spillways, these are man-made structures that help retain water in canals such as Taylor Creek in Fort Pierce, and then release into the estuaries when necessary, typically in the rainy season. Some of these canals lead back to Lake Okeechobee, like Taylor Creek. Some are just storage/runoff canals for…

Amberjack season opens on August 1 along the Coastal Bend, followed by the more popular and much-awaited gag grouper season on September 1. The latter opens during the back-to-school week. Even so, when September arrives, there will be an offshore effort from the Gulf’s bluewater crowd. Bag limits are tight, 2 per person, but folks want their tasty bottom fish. Gags are no longer managed by region, but Gulf-wide, and I suppose it’s because they move around too much. Years ago, I heard of several tagged gags that migrated from Florida all the way to Texas. After being left alone all summer, you can bet AJs and gags won’t be hook-shy, and prone to hitting a deep-diving plug. Both species roam above the bottom, and a wiggling plug will draw…

‘‘Apalachicola Bay typically fills with white shrimp beginning in September. This attracts a number of hungry gamefish. August and September offer an abundance of fishing opportunities. The season is open for flounder, amberjack, and speckled trout for both months while gag grouper does not open until September 1. Pompano, Spanish mackerel, and kingfish will be readily available until the cooler weather pushes them south. Most of the beaches from Mexico Beach to Alligator Point will see pompano show up anywhere there is white sand and surf. The Bob Sikes Cut is a good place to target not only pompano but Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, flounder, and redfish. Unfortunately, the cut is only accessible by boat unless you live in the Plantation. Another great fishing spot, the East End of St.…

Do cobia spawn off Florida’s estuaries? The state wants to know and will pay you to help find out. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is on the tail end of its second season (March through September) of a three-season project to better understand the reproductive habits of cobia off the lower peninsula of Florida. Unquestionably, this information is needed. Limits have been tightened in recent years, as fishery managers attempt to address reports of declining catches. Based on conversations I’ve had with anglers and captains from the Panhandle, Tampa Bay, the Keys, Canaveral and Jacksonville, cobia stocks do seem to be in trouble. Scientists say we don’t know enough about the species. Earlier this year, Ryan Rindone, lead fishery biologist for the federal Gulf of Mexico Fishery…

The summer doldrums will continue through the month of August in South Florida. Once we get into September, South Florida will see a significant change in our weather conditions making our favorite outdoor activities that much more enjoyable. A few things to look forward to might be catching your own lobster dinner, reeling in one of the biggest snappers in Florida, catching and releasing that bucket list snook in August, and then trying to find one to fit the slot in September. And if you like to hunt with a bow and arrow, crossbow, or muzzle-loader, the 2023 season for turkeys and deer will be kicking off in August and September. Offshore anglers from Deerfield Beach to Ocean Reef should think about getting out early, before the sun rises, if…

‘‘If you do not want to run 80 to 100 miles just to catch a couple of red snapper, then start in 100 feet for mangroves, muttons, and vermilions. The dog days of summer are a real thing, making weather a big factor in dictating what species to chase. We have a few different types of weather to deal with this time of the year. There’s hot, hot and humid, and raining. Fishing is good though, and depending on what Mother Nature provides will dictate what we fish for. We can expect rain to fall somewhere every day; sometimes in the morning, but certainly in the mid-afternoon to sunset hours. Having a good weather app is a must, with lightning being the main concern. When fishing nearshore and inshore, I…

‘‘This time of year, forage fish are abundant and diverse. Pogy schools ball up just off the beach south of Cocoa Beach. Captain Jamie Glasner—captain and owner of Fin & Fly Charters—has good news: Seagrass is rebounding in the Mosquito Lagoon. “It’s like the big die-offs never happened—there’s grass everywhere,” reports Glasner, a Florida Sportsman who is passionate about the lagoon’s health. “I can’t find a patch of bare sand anywhere and all the big flats are solid green.” Glasner, who grew up in Cocoa Beach and specializes in the unique and productive fisheries found on the Space Coast, remembers a time when seagrass flourished and the flats crawled with reds, snook, trout, and black drum. He’s also aware it can disappear quickly. Starting in 2011, seagrass began dying off…

‘‘Many pre-made rigs are sold with two treble hooks, but I personally like a J-hook in the nose and a treble hook stinger. Transition is the best word to describe August and September in the Panhandle. While we may not reach a full-on fall pattern, we will begin the transition toward it. When it comes to finding fish during changing seasons, there are multiple factors to consider. During this time, our attention is on the bait—our beaches and bays will have droves of different baitfish pushing through and you can be sure to find the predators nearby. Surf fishing, inshore, and nearshore all offer some exciting and different opportunities to get in on a hot bite. Currently, the most beloved catches along the Emerald Coast are king mackerel, redfish, and…

T is the season for blue crabs and we catch plenty of them right off our dock. Crabbing is a great family activity and literally anyone can catch a few with no experience needed—you will need a saltwater fishing license. The only crabs that must be released are egg-bearing females. Once steamed and picked, blue crabs lend themselves to a variety of fares including soups, cakes, boils, and dips, so why not a sweet morning treat? Brunch doesn’t get better than with this easy yet fancy variation of the classic crustless quiche enriched with fresh blue crab. If you haven’t made a frittata before, here’s a rule of thumb: The size of your pan, preferably well-seasoned cast iron, will determine the number of eggs required for a good texture. My…

We are in our full summer pattern of extremely hot and humid conditions followed by fast-forming thunderstorms that sweep through the region like mini tropical storms. Do not let this deter you; August and September are great months to target a wide variety of species in the Everglades City area. Summer is here and the mangrove snapper bite can be as hot as the blazing afternoon temperatures. These scrappy fighters are not only wily adversaries, but they also make excellent table fare and provide hours of fun fishing for anglers of all ages and skill levels. Mangrove snapper are native to the western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean Sea. This region of southwest Florida provides the elements that hold these fish…

When it comes to late summer fishing in the West Central Region, fish are just about at the upper extremes of their comfort zones. Success in catching snook, tarpon, redfish, and seatrout depends on understanding how temperature affects the targeted species. Each has a comfort zone within their preferred habitat. The temperature range in that particular zone influences dissolved oxygen in the water, which affects targeted fish and the prey that they seek, whether that is a shrimp, crab, baitfish, or something else. Finding that comfort zone is the key to a great day on the water. Fishing during the cooler hours of the day can bring success. As the day warms, the shady areas under boat docks and shorelines with overhanging mangroves and some water movement, or those adjacent…

‘‘I’m convinced that nothing lands quieter than a Clouser, and reds will almost always pick one up that is lightly twitched directly in front of them. The success or failure for most fishermen in August and September will be defined by the weather more so than any other 60-day period during the year. If we get our first nor’easter to signal the start of fall, the mullet run will commence, and shrimp will start to pull out of their brackish summer homes. Whereas there will no doubt be some shrimp on the move as the days get shorter, it’s the first good blow that will really get the bait migrations moving. It will be interesting to see how the flounder numbers look this fall. The annual spring run that Northeast…

Captain Ryan Schiedel hollered to his brother, Kyle, from the flybridge. “You better get another gaff in it!” The 120-pound yellowfin tuna received a second piercing from the brothers’ friend, Will Tadich, and they hoisted it on deck. They knew it was a huge tuna for the waters off Port Canaveral, but they wouldn’t know until the next day that the tuna—cranked in by the third brother in the Schiedel family, Cory— would earn them top boat in the Ed Dwyer’s Otherside Invitational held June 3. “We left the dock at 3 a.m. and headed straight east out of the port,” said Schiedel, a full-time charter captain who runs the 58-foot Good Vibes. “We were 80 to 90 miles out when we found a temperature break that dropped from 82…